When you drive a vehicle on a public road in South Africa, you need to obtain a valid roadworthy certificate to ensure that your car is safe to drive. They will check your car for any potential safety problems. In this article, we will show you a complete guide on how and where I can obtain a roadworthiness certificate.
What is a roadworthy certificate
A roadworthy certificate in South Africa is a simple and official authorization for your vehicle. You must obtain it at a private or public testing station to prove that your vehicle is safe enough to drive your car on public roads. They will check the vehicle’s brakes, tires and suspension and other important parts in your car to make sure everything is safe to use before you use it on public roads. You are not allowed to drive a vehicle if you do not have roadworthy certificate. Here you can check the roadworthy certificate sample below.
When you need a roadworthy certificate
Since a roadworthy certificate is important for every driver, you must have the vehicle checked and obtain a roadworthy certificate. Here are some cases when you need a roadworthy certificate.
- You are buying a new vehicle to register the car in your name.
- You are selling your car. Ownership of your vehicle will be recorded in the car buyer’s name.
Therefore, when the vehicle changes ownership, a Roadworthy Certificate must be presented. That is, when you buy a new or used car or sell a car, you are required to have the roadworthy tested at a private or public vehicle testing station.
How to get a roadworthy certificate
It is important for you to obtain a roadworthy certificate to ensure that you are driving a safe vehicle on the road. Here you can follow the steps below and obtain a roadworthy certificate.
Prepare the required documents
Before applying for a roadworthy certificate, you must prepare all the following requirements:
- The vehicle’s registration certificate
- Your identity document (ID)
- The application fee
If it is related to motor vehicle purchases, you also need to prepare the car seller’s registration form and current roadworthy certificate.
Visit the nearest vehicle testing station
After you have prepared all the necessary documents, you can visit the testing station near you during the opening hours. If you don’t know the exact location of the nearest vehicle testing station, you can search for it on Google and know the opening hours.
Submit the application
When you arrive at the vehicle testing station, you can inform them that you want to have your vehicle tested. Then you must complete the Application for Roadworthiness Certification (ACR) form. In addition, you must submit the required documents as mentioned above.
Roadworthy Inspection
After you submit the roadworthy application, they will carry out a careful roadworthy inspection in every details to ensure that your car is in good condition to avoid any potential safety hazards. They will also test these important sections to ensure that your car is safe to drive on the road, such as the tires, brakes, steerings lights and so on.
Get your roadworthy certificate
The application will be processed on the same day. Once your roadworthy inspection passes, it means your car is safe to drive on the road. You will receive the roadworthiness certificate.
However, if you failed the roadworthy test, such as fittings, engine, exhaust system, lights, brakes suspension and so on, you are required to fix the car in advance. Otherwise, your car will be considered a dangerous vehicle that is not allowed to drive on public roads. Therefore, it is important to get a roadworthy certificate every year or two to make sure that you have safe driving on the way.
How to check if your vehicle is roadworthy
After you have submitted the application, the vehicle inspector will check your car at the inspection center. They will carefully check for any major or minor problems with the vehicle. If any of the following parts are damaged, it may fail the roadworthy test. Here you can check the following factors:
Brakes
It is one of the most important parts of car inspection. The vehicle inspector will check both the front and rear brakes with a brake test machine to ensure that your brakes are in good condition. If the mechanic finds any problems with the brakes, you must fix them before you drive them on the road.
Tires
No matter which vehicle test station you choose, they will check your tires to see if they are inflated to the correct pressure. If there are any signs of wear or damage, such as cracks, bald spots, or cuts, you must have them repaired or replaced. Otherwise, if your tires fail the inspection, your vehicle can not be considered roadworthy.
Steering
It is vital to check the steering condition. The inspector will check the steering wheel and the connection between the wheel and the rest of your car. If they find any signs of wear or tear, you must repair them before issuing a roadworthiness certificate.
Lights
Lights are important for drivers when driving a car on the road. The car inspector will check all your lights, such as headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals. If some of the lights are not working properly, you need to fix them to make sure you ‘re using all the normal and good lights when you are driving.
Suspension
The car’s suspension system is responsible for a smooth ride on the road. They will check the condition of your suspension components. If there are any signs of damage, you must repair them as soon as possible to pass the roadworthy certificate.
In addition, vehicle inspectors will also review the following parts of the checklist, such as windscreen, engine, exhaust system and electrical system , etc. If any of them are damaged, they will be shown in the report. So you need to repair them quickly to pass the roadworthy certificate successfully. You must make sure that you have a car that is in good conditions in every aspect.
How long is a roadworthy certificate valid for
The roadworthy certificate is usually valid for 60 days. If your license expires, you cannot renew your used car license before the expiry date of the roadworthy certificate. Don’t worry. You will have 21 days to renew your motor vehicle licence from the expiry date and maintain its roadworthiness. You should complete your car inspection again to make sure it is in good quality after the roadworthy certificate validity period.
How much is a roadworthy certificate
The roadworthy certificate price may vary depending on the roadworthy checking station you choose. Usually the roadworthy certificate will cost you about R500 per vehicle. If your car doesn’t pass a roadworthy inspection, you need to repair it to make sure that you are safe to drive the car. Repairing costs may vary according to the different repair parts and vehicle inspection stations. It also depends on the After you have addressed the issues, you may need to pay an additional fee for the reassessment.
FAQ
Can I drive my car without roadworthy certificate?
No. You are not allowed to drive a car if you do not have a valid roadworthy certificate. You must be responsible for yourself and others on the public road. According to the rules in South Africa，a roadworthiness certificate can ensure that you have a safe car that can be driven on the road, which can avoid potential accidents and protect your life.
Is a DEKRA report a roadworthy certificate?
Yes. If you pass a DEKRA Roadworthy Vehicle Inspection, you will be issued a certificate. In South Africa, DEKRA is the leading supplier of Roadworthy Inspections and Certificates. It will check the vehicle roadworthiness inspection to tell you if thereis anything in your car that needs to be repaired. If your car has been checked for some problems, you must have it repaired as soon as possbile. Then DEKRA will re-evaluate your car and do the roadworthiness check again to make sure you have a better quality vehicle and safe driving in South Africa.
What fails a roadworthy test?
When you do the roadworthy test at the vehicle testing station, you must make sure that all the parts of your vehicle are working perfectly. If there are some factors in your car that don’t work, you may fail a roadworthy test. For example:
- The tires are inflated to the correct pressure.
- The brakes are not in good condition.
- The steering wheel are loose.
- The lights are broken.
- The car’s suspension system is damaged.
If there are some problems on the electric system, exhaust system and engine system, you may fail the roadworthy test too.
Conclusion
In conclusion, you must have a roadworthy certificate when you buy a new or used vehicle. It is important for every driver to have a car in good condition before you drive it on the public road to avoid a car accident. You are required to have the roadworthy inspection at a professional inspection center.